Prayer of Confession:
Ever Gracious and Compassionate God,
we come before you in need of your healing hand upon us.
The world that you have created to be gift and blessing to us
has become a burden for us.
Our shoulders are pressed down, our spine is withered.
We confess that our thirsty quest for “more and better”
has destroyed relationships with all living things,
including your renewing and creative presence
upon the earth.
In our desire for self-sufficiency and independence
we have dismissed the need for your
transforming companionship in our daily lives.
In our yearning for peace and security
we have built fences around our lives
to keep out the plight and struggles of others.
We look down upon our feet and
believe that what we see is the extent of our world.
Healing Lord,
re-align us so that we might look up and outwards
upon your gift and blessing to us.
Release our shoulders so that we might
reach out and respond to the needs of others.
Strengthen our spine so that we might
take our place in the renewing of creation
and the earth’s resources.
Surround us with your transforming love
so that with confidence and hope we might
be a channel of your grace and presence
in the lives of others
and the healing of the nations upon the earth.
We pray in the name of the One who redeems us
and claims us, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Words of Assurance:
Hear the good news of God’s marvellous grace:
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In him we are forgiven and made new,
healed and made whole to be all that we are called to be.
In joy receive God’s grace and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn of Praise:
755 Go ye, go ye into the world   or
761 Who’s goin’ to tell the story

Prayer For Illumination:
God of all Ages,
open our eyes so that we may see your truth for our lives this day,
open our ears so we may hear your voice with clarity and conviction,
open our hearts so we may be warmed with your love
and in so doing be prepared to serve you with all that we are.
In the name of Christ, our Lord, we pray.  Amen

Scripture Readings:
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48  (Primary reading although we prefer Luke 24:36-49.) 

Sermon: “Things We Saw Gifts Received”

Hymn of Praise:
587 Called as partners in Christ’s service  or
774 God forgave my sin/Freely, freely

Offering: 
God’s faithfulness blesses our lives and gives us strength for daily living.  In thanksgiving to God’s goodness and generosity towards us let us present our offerings.

Doxology

Offertory Prayer:
Almighty God,
these gifts are a sign of our thanksgiving and gratitude to you.
In using the earth’s resources for daily living,
you also invite us to share what you have entrusted to us.
By your transforming love,
use these gifts in your reign on earth
so that lives may be healed and blessed
through  your gracious and tender care.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen 

Pastoral Prayer  (Adapted from prayers of young people in Ghana, West Africa.)
Dear Lord, we thank you
that you have brought us salvation
through Jesus Christ, your Son.
We can’t thank you enough
for this great gift.
And above all
we must thank you for the peace
that has come into our lives
with our new Lord.
We pray to you for the peace of this world.
We know
that true and lasting peace
can come only from Jesus Christ.
And thus we come to you,
asking for your help and your peace.
We ask through our Master and Redeemer.
We pray for the rulers of this world.
May they search through all the problems
that torment us today
to find your answer,
the only true one.
We pray for the Christians of all the world.
Make us your own.
For your Spirit, holy God, we pray,
the Spirit with which you equipped
your prophets, apostles, martyrs and confessors,
the Spirit who opens our hearts for your service
as he did theirs.
We seek our brothers and sisters
and find them only
when we open our hearts to them.
We must speak your word to them aright.
They must understand
that you are their Redeemer.
Otherwise they are lost.
Come, Holy Spirit,
prepare us to enter the huts of others.
In the power of Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.
(copyright 1964 Friendship Press, from I Lie On My Mat And Pray, pages 45; 49)

Hymn of Praise:
480 In Christ there is no east or west
778 Lord, you give the great commission 

Commissioning and Benediction
Go forth from this place in joy and peace,
alert to signs of God’s grace with us.

And now may the love of God,
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the companionship of the Holy Spirit
rest upon us now and forever more.  Amen

Alternate Hymn Suggestions from the Book of Praise (1972)
193 The day of resurrection
 51 From all that dwell below the skies
251 Come, children, join to sing
479 Saviour, teach me day by day
477 Lord, speak to me
382 Christ for the world we sing
389 In Christ there is no east or west

The Rev. Donald W. MacKay and Rev. Marion Barclay MacKay returned to Canada in 2008 after serving as staff with International Ministries, PCC, to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, beginning in January 2006. In addition to serving in Ghana, Donald has also served in Italy and over twenty years in Nigeria. He has ministered in Canada in various capacities within the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces. Marion was a diaconal minister in southern Alberta before being ordained and served as Co-Minister at St. Andrew’s, Calgary, prior to their departure to Ghana.