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: Instrumental
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn: 560 CP God, Whose Almighty Word
God, whose almighty Word chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight: hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel-day sheds not its glorious ray, let there be light!
Saviour, who came to bring on your redeeming wing
healing and sight, health to the sick in mind, sight to the inly blind:
now for all human-kind let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy Dove, speed on your flight!
Move on the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place let there be light!
Gracious and holy Three, glorious Trinity, wisdom, love, might,
boundless as ocean’s tide rolling in fullest pride:
through the world far and wide let there be light!
Gathering of the Community
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone, God says.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
The grownups will dream dreams, the young will see visions,
In those days, I will even give my Spirit to my servants, to both men and women.
Pour out your Spirit on us, O God.
Opening Prayer (for Peace Sabbath)
You have graced us with this hour of peace, O God
We give you thanks and praise, and know that you are with us
You have graced us with this hour of peace, O God.
We come knowing that you accept us as we are.
You have graced us with this hour of peace, O God
While we experience peace, we know that there are others who experience injustice, hunger, poverty and war and we pray that they too may know peace
You have graced us with this hour of peace, O God
Strengthen us in this time of worship that we may build relationships of gentleness and peace and that we may work for peace for all in our world.
Collect of the Day (together)
Lord of the lost, you come into our homes and call us your own: may our tables be graced by your presence as guest and our possessions freed to serve the poor; through Jesus Christ, the Seeker. Amen.
(Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009) alt.)
Birthdays and Anniversaries in October
Watch over your children, Oh Lord, as their days increase. Bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall and in their hearts may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of their lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet Habakkuk 1.1-4; 2.1-4
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous—therefore judgement comes forth perverted.
I will stand at my watch-post, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 119.137-144
You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgements are right. You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words. Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight. Your decrees are righteous for ever; give me understanding that I may live.
A Reading from the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 1.1-4, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn: God Is the Gracious Creator
God is the gracious creator my friend
God’s spirit humbles my pride
God’s the lover of all souls
and from Galilee’s shoals
God has spread the love far and wide
So says my heart So says my heart
God has spread the Love far and wide
I think I see him in you my friend
I hope you find him in me
For God is everywhere
and in every care
as concerned as anyone can ever be
So says my heart So says my heart
as concerned as anyone can ever be
We must go out to the world my friend
God’s mission of love to expand
If to serve is to give
and help others to live
we must answer God’s Loving command
So says my heart So says my heart
we must answer God’s Loving command
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 19.1-10
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
An Affirmation of Faith -- We Believe (posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page)
Faith demands choice.
By the grace of Christ, we can choose.
We choose to believe
that light is better than darkness,
sharing is better than hoarding,
truth is better than deceit,
mercy is better than revenge,
love is better than indifference,
God is stronger than chaos.
We choose to have faith in the God who is love
and choice will verify itself
on the long and narrow road of life.
By grace, we choose to choose faith.
Thanks be to God! Amen
The Prayers of the People: Litany #1 BAS
(In peace let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”)
For peace from on high and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our bishops, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Charles our King, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the city of Winnipeg, for every city and community, and for those who live in them in faith,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For good weather, and for abundant harvests for all to share, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel by land, water, or air, for the sick and the suffering (especially . . . names on Prayer List), for prisoners and captives, and for their safety, health, and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our deliverance from all affliction, strife, and need, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the absolution and remission of our sins and offences, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died (especially . . . ), let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Remembering ( . . . and) all the saints, we commit ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. To you, O Lord. Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you, and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests. Fulfil now our desires and petitions, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come eternal life; for you, Father, are good and loving, and we glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Confession and Assurance
Sometimes we have lost our way, O God. We know the right course of action, but lack the courage to follow it. Sometimes we miss our cue, O God. We are aware of what needs to be said but are afraid of the consequences. Sometimes we have labeled others unfairly, O God. We are quick to judge on the basis of race or speech, slow to accept the worth of the person. Sometimes we have avoided the challenge, O God. The call to justice or to compassion comes clearly to us but we let it pass. Sometimes we have been unfaithful, O God. The example of Jesus Christ is before us, but we delay our discipleship.
Silence for Reflection
Jesus said to the reformed tax collector Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
We rejoice that we can confess our shortcomings fully and openly and can make a fresh start, as he did. God’s pardon and peace are ours. Thanks be to God!
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Offertory Hymn: 354 CP Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, thou Font of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious measure, sung by flaming tongues above; O the vast, the boundless treasure of my God’s unchanging love.
Here I make faith’s affirmation: thus far by thy help I’ve come, and I hope, by thy compassion, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave God I love; take my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Prayer over the Gifts
In our giving, O God, the life of Jesus is before us.
We will give to maintain Christ’s values,
We will give to sustain Christ’s work,
We will show Christ’s compassion,
We will strengthen Christ’s community,
We will give because we remember Christ’s Cross
And experience his risen hope.
And you O God will receive our gifts and bless them. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer 4
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right to give you thanks and praise, O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home; by your will they were created and have their being.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill; you made us the stewards of creation.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
But we turn against you, and betray your trust; and we turn against one another. Again and again you call us to return. Through the prophets and sages you reveal your righteous law. In the fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. By his death he opened to us the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and Earth of your glory are full
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, gave it to his friends, and said, “Take this, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after supper, he took the cup of wine; he gave you thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Gracious God, we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ, we proclaim his resurrection and ascension, and we look with expectation for his coming as Lord of all the nations. We who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring you these gifts. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this offering of your Church, that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth and make it your new creation. Gather your Church together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, where peace and justice are revealed, that we, with all your people, of every language, race, and nation, may share the banquet you have promised; through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all honour and glory are yours, creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (sung, Cameron)
The Breaking of the Bread
Creator of all, you gave us golden fields of wheat, whose many grains we have gathered and made into this one bread.
So may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom
The Gifts of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God
The Communion
I Saw the Rich Ones
I saw the rich ones I saw what they gave
the widow who offered two pennies she’d saved
and I saw she was smiling I knew she was glad
and I wondered because she gave all that she had
But with God the world is turned upside own
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me.
I saw Zacchaeus, a sinner they said
but to his house I saw Jesus go to break bread
and I knew something special had happened that day
when Zacchaeus gave half of his riches away
But with God the world is turned upside own
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me.
The men in the vineyards were grumbling one day
I knew they weren’t happy with what they’d been paid
for the ones who came later were paid just the same
as the workers who greeted the dawn when they came
But with God the world is turned upside own
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me,
where it’s good to feel good about God loving you and me.
Zaccheus
REFRAIN
There was a man in Jerico called Zaccheus.
There was a man in Jerico called Zaccheus.
Now the Hebrews, they were tall but Zaccheus, he was small.
Yet the Lord loved Zaccheus, in spite of them all.
The Lord went walking one day through Jerico town,
and the people began to gather from miles around.
But Zaccheus, he couldn’t see, so he climbed a sycamore tree
and the Lord looked up and said: “Zaccheus come down.” REFRAIN
The Lord said, “Zaccheus, I am dining with you today.
Zaccheus, I come to your house, come lead the way.”
Then Zaccheus, he gave a cheer, but the people began to sneer.
“This man is a sinner, does the Lord seek lodging here?” REFRAIN
Now Zaccheus was small of stature, but he could show
that a man who is stout of heart can grow and grow.
“If I have cheated young or old, I restore the goods fourfold.”
And salvation came that day to his whole household. REFRAIN
Prayer after Communion
Heavenly Father, bring to perfection within us the communion we share in this sacrament. May the unity we know this day live in our community and family. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Announcements
Closing Hymn: They’ll Know We Are Christians
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. Chorus
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. Chorus We will work with each other, we will work side by side, We will work with each other, we will work side by side, And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. Chorus
All praise to Creator from whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only son, And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. Chorus
The Dismissal
May God stand by us and give us strength so that through us the message might be fully proclaimed and God’s kingdom be fully realized. And may we look to one another and be assured of the faith we keep together and the hope we may realize.
Thanks be to God, Alleluia
Postlude: Vagabonds
Come all you vagabonds, come all you ‘don’t belongs’,
winners and losers, come, people like me.
Come all you travellers tired from the journey,
come wait a while, stay a while, welcomed you’ll be.
Come all you questioners looking for answers
and searching for reasons and sense in it all;
come all you fallen and come all you broken,
find strength for your body and food for your soul.
Come to the feast, there is room at the table.
Come, let us meet in this place
with the King of all kindness who welcomes us in
with the wonder of love and the power of grace,
the wonder of love and the power of grace.
Come, those who worry ‘bout houses and money,
and all those who don’t have a care in the world;
from ev’ry station and orientation,
the helpless, the hopeless, the young and the old.
Come to the feast, there is room at the table.
Come, let us meet in this place
with the King of all kindness who welcomes us in
with the wonder of love and the power of grace,
the wonder of love and the power of grace.
Come all believers and dreamers and schemers,
and come all you restless just searching for home;
movers and shakers and givers and takers,
the happy, the sad, the lost and alone.
Come self-sufficient with wearied ambition,
and come, those who feel at the end of the road.
Fiery debaters and religion haters,
accusers, abusers, the hurt and ignored.
Come to the feast, there is room at the table.
Come, let us meet in this place
with the King of all kindness who welcomes us in
with the wonder of love and the power of grace,
the wonder of love and the power of grace,
the wonder of love and the power of grace.