Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude: It Is Well With My Soul – dedicated by Vanessa Silva
When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, You have taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though hatred should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
For me be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live,
if Jordan above me shall roll
no pang shall be mine for in death as in life
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trumpet shall resound and the Lord shall descend, “Even so”—it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.
Sentence:
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11: 25, 26)
Gathering Hymns: 276 CP For All the Saints – dedicated by Donna Cawker in memory of Joseph Fry
For all the saints who from their labours rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!
But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day- the saints triumphant rise in bright array: the King of glory passes on his way. Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Gathering (Flames of the Spirit R. Duck)
We gather today to celebrate the lives of people that we name as saints
Some of them are living, others have completed their physical lives here on earth.
Some have touched us personally, others have touched and called into question the institutions and structures of our society
But all have shaken our being – all have been examples of lives of wholeness, working for justice.
We celebrate these persons and their lives in all aspects of God’s creation.
Hymn: 509 CP Precious Lord, Take My Hand – dedicated by Lorraine Powell
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
precious Lord, linger near; when my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call,
hold my hand lest I fall: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand; guide my feet, hold my hand:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Lighting the Christ Candle in Memory of Loved Ones
The work of God the Father is visible.
Let us respond with praise.
The example of Jesus is apparent.
Let us respond with obedience.
The wind of the Spirit is blowing.
Let us respond with joy.
The word of God is calling.
Let us worship in spirit and in truth.
Come let us worship the Lord;
Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, Amen.
Collect for All Souls
Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer. Grant them your peace, let light perpetual shine upon them, and in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Hymn: 486 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling – dedicated by Patsy Grant, Kelsley, Mandy, Kristelle in memory of Cecil Grant
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver; let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Hymn: Love Lifted Me – dedicated by Vanessa Silva
I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea, Heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I.
REFRAIN
Love lifted me! (even me!) Love lifted me! (even me!)
When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.
All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing;
Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs;
Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs. REFRAIN
Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves;
He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey;
He your Saviour wants to be, Be saved today. REFRAIN
2. Scripture Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9 … The Souls of the Righteous
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction;but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples,and the Lord will reign over them for ever.Those who trust in him will understand truth,and the faithful will abide with him in love,because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,and he watches over his elect.
Hymn: 151 CP All Poor Folk and Humble – dedicated byDavid & Lynn Pate
All poor folk and humble, all lame folk who stumble,
come haste ye, and be not afraid;
for Jesus, our treasure, whose love passes measure,
in lowly poor manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him laid rich gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave them their hay;
and Jesus in beauty accepted their duty:
contented in manger he lay.
Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him;
our service he ne’er can despise,
whose love still is able to show us that stable
where softly in manger he lies.
The Christ child will lead us, the good Shepherd feed us,
and with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he’ll banish, then sorrow will vanish,
and death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever, and nothing shall sever
from us the great love of our King.
His peace and his pity shall bless his fair city;
his praises we ever shall sing.
Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him;
our service he ne’er can despise,
whose love still is able to show us that stable
where softly in manger he lies.
3. Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will not let your foot be moved and the One who watches over you will not fall asleep. Behold, the One who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
The Lord, the Lord, watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your side, so that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil and shall keep you safe. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Hymn: I Long for Thee, O Jerusalem – dedicated by Carole Carlson
As I gazed, O Lord, from the banks of the shore.
As I gazed, O Lord, to my home.
Then I wept, O Lord, at the thought of my land.
As I sat, and I stared from the shore.
I long for thee, O Jerusalem.
I long to be in my home.
Ne’er shall I sing in a distant land.
Take me home.
Lord, take me home.
Though a captive, Lord, I shall never forget.
Despite orders, Lord, I’ll be true.
I shall never sing, nor take joy in this land.
All my thoughts and desires will be You.
I long for thee, O Jerusalem.
I long to be in my home.
Ne’er shall I sing in a distant land.
Take me home.
Lord, take me home.
4. Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 … God gives us Victory.
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
Hymn: The Old Rugged Cross – dedicated by Anthony Odogun in memory of his late parents Joshua & Comfort Odogun
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
REFRAIN
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary. REFRAIN
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share. REFRAIN
5. Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 … Coming of the Lord
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Hymn: 384 CP Praise to the Lord, the Almighty – dedicated by Carole Hreno in memory of John Hreno
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation; O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation: all ye who hear, brothers and sisters draw near; praise him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth, shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth: hast thou not seen how thy entreaties have been granted in what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee; surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee: ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with his love he befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him! All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him! Let the Amen sound from his people again: gladly for aye we adore him.
6. Scripture Reading: John 5:24-27 … The Hour is Here
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man.’
Hymn: 619 CP Fairest Lord Jesus – dedicated by Bill Kawka in memory of Bonnie Kawka
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of Godhead’s human son: thee will I cherish, thee will I honour, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the troubled heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and fair the twinkling, starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
All fairest beauty,
Heavenly and earthly,
wondrously, Jesus, is found in thee;
none can be nearer, fairer, or dearer
than thou, my Saviour, art to me.
7. Scripture Reading: John 6:35-40 … Faith Gives Eternal Life Now
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’
Hymn: 403 CP Let All Things Now Living – dedicated by Trish Steadman in memory of Peter & Ann Steadman
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who still guides us on to the end of our days. Love’s banners are o'er us, God’s light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into Light. God’s law still enforcesthe stars in their courses and causes the sun in its splendour to shine; the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the deeps of the ocean in praises combine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing; with glad adoration a song let us raise till all things now living unite in thanksgiving: "To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!"
8. Scripture Reading: John 11:21-27 … The Raising of Lazarus
Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’
Hymn: 628 CP O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High – dedicated by David & Lynn Pate
O love, how deep, how broad, how high! It fills the heart with ecstasy, that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake.
God sent no angel to our race, of higher or of lower place, but wore the robe of human frame, for us, and to this lost world came.
For us he prayed, for us he taught; for us his daily works he wrought, by words and signs and actions thus still seeking not himself but us.
To God whose boundless love has won
salvation for us through the Son,
to God the Father, glory be
both now and through eternity.
Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our faith in God together:
We are not alone; we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Offering Hymn: 656 CP She Comes Sailing on the Wind – dedicated by David & Lynn Pate, and by Lorraine Powell
Chorus
She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun,
on a journey just begun, she flies on. And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night, full of laughter, full of light, she flies on. Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth like an empty cradle waiting to be filled, and from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth, like a mother breathing life into her child. Many were the dreamers, whose eyes were given sight when the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form. Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight, and then down the ages still she flew on. Chorus To a gentle girl in Galilee a gentle breeze she came, a whisper softly calling in the dark; the promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end, Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart. Flying to the river, she waited circling high above the child now grown so full of grace. As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky, and she carried him away in her embrace. Chorus Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world, after dawn returned in flame of rising sun, the Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled, bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on. Chorus
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Celebrations along the way D. McRae-McMahon)
God, be praised! As the summer follows the spring, as green leaves grow after the fire, as the sunlight swings from coast to coast, so the gifts of God have come to us, even us. As we lift our faces to the rising of the mountains, the blessings of God spread forth towards each one of us, the saints of God in this day. Dear God we are thankful, we are thankful. Amen
God of our salvation, you reward the just and console those who mourn. Hear our prayers in the name of your risen Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Let us pray to the Lord saying “Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer”
Today we entrust our departed loved ones into your loving care. We thank you for the gift of their life and their love for us all. We thank you for welcoming them into your heavenly home where they now know peace and happiness forever. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all of us assembled here today to worship in faith, that we may all one day be gathered together in God’s Eternal Kingdom with those who have gone before us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for the members of our family whom we have entrusted to your eternal love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for the families and all the friends of our brothers and sisters who have died in your mercy; we pray that they may be comforted in their grief by the Lord who wept at the death of Lazarus.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We remember before you all who mourn and all who suffer. We pray that you will use us as bearers of your love, to support them in their grief.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Give us patience and faith in our time of loss, so that we may come to understand the wonder of your mercy, and the mystery of your love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Increase our faith and trust in your Son, Jesus Christ, that we may live victoriously.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Give us such a vision of your purpose, and such an assurance of your love and power, that we may ever hold fast the hope which is in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord God, in the resurrection of your Son, you have shown us that life is stronger than death. Support us as we travel towards you on our pilgrim journey and bring us one day to the fullness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: 507 CP Blest Be the Tie That Binds – dedicated by the Grant family in memory of Archibald Herbert, Gwendoline Herbert, Malcolm Herbert
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Jesus’ love;
the fellowship of Christian minds
is like to that above.
Before God’s gracious throne
we pour our ardent prayers:
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes,
each other’s burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When for a while we part,
this thought will soothe our pain;
that we shall still be joined in heart
and one day meet again.
The Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
Hymn: He Who Would Valiant Be – dedicated by Bernie & Beth Beare in memory of Bernie’s father
He who would valiant be ‘Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy Follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent To be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round with dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound—His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; Though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right To be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, Thou dost defend Us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day To be a pilgrim.
Blessing
May God give to us and to all those we love comfort and peace, light and joy, in this world and the next; and the blessing of God almighty, the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer, be with us and remain with us always. Amen. Alleluia!
Announcements
Closing Hymn: 418 CP Draw the Circle Wide – dedicated by Karen Watson in memory of Leigh and Rick
CHORUS
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone, standing side by side, draw the circle wide. God the still point of the circle, ‘round whom all creation turns; nothing lost, but held forever, In God’s gracious arms. CHORUS Let our hearts touch far horizons, so encompass great and small; let our loving know no borders, faithful to God’s call. CHORUS Let the dreams we dream be larger, than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door. CHORUS x2
The Dismissal
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Blessed is the Lord, our strength and our salvation. Amen.
Postlude: The Church in the Wildwood – dedicated by Kathy Flemington in recognition of our Centennial+2 Celebration
There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood,
no lovelier spot in the dale.
No place is so dear to my childhood
as the little brown church in the vale.
REFRAIN:
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
oh, come to the church in the vale.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
as the little brown church in the dale.
How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh come to the church in the vale. REFRAIN
There close by the church in the valley,
Lies one that I loved so well;
She sleeps sweetly sleeps ‘neath the willow,
Disturb not her rest in the vale. REFRAIN
Then close by the side of that loved one,
Neath the tree where the wild flowers bloom,
When the farewell hymn shall be chanted,
I shall rest by her side in the tomb.
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
oh, come to the church in the vale.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
as the little brown church in the dale.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
as the little brown church in the dale.