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Sunday, March 23
Port Burwell/Vienna United Church
Rev. Cordell Parsons opened the Sunday service by lighting the third candle for Lent and led the congregation in a Lenten candle liturgy.
Music was supplied by Courtney Porch.
The congregation sang We Shall Overcome.
Rev. Parsons led the call to worship and was responded to by the congregation.
The sung response was Oh God How We Have Wandered.
Rev. Parsons led the opening prayer responded to by the congregation.
The first hymn was I’ve Got Peace Like A River.
Rev. Parsons led the congregation in the repeating of the Lord’s Prayer.
The next hymn was I Hear the Voice of Jesus.
The scripture reading was taken from John 4:5-42. In this reading Jesus comes to a well and needs a drink of water. At the well there is a Samaritan lady getting water and Jesus asks her for a drink but she refuses him because he is a Jew and she is a Samaritan. She asks Jesus how he will get water from the well because the well is deep and he has no bucket. Jesus tells her that who ever drinks the water from this well will get thirsty again but who ever drinks the water that Jesus gives them will never be thirsty.
The lady said that the Messiah will come and tell them everything and Jesus told her he was the Messiah. The lady left the well and went back into town and told the people about the meeting with Jesus and the people followed her back to the well. The people believed in Jesus and He stayed two days and continued to preach to them.
The next hymn was Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.
Rev. Parsons led the congregation in a choral call to prayer called We Shall Overcome.
The final hymn was Lead on O Cloud of Presence.
Next Sunday service will be at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Port Burwell/Vienna United Church and all are invited to attend and worship.
Avondale United Church
The congregation gathered for worship at 10:30 a.m. For Gathering Praise, Bruce Fleming read part of Psalm 139, Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights was sung and the Christ candle lit. Lay Reader Bev Crocker welcomed everyone and gave the announcements. Ashley Edwards announced the Kids Konnect Klub that meets every Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. Mommy Connect Group for Moms and kids at home meet every Friday at 10 a.m.
In the Kids Connection Time, Rev. Fred Hagle explained to the children how God used Joseph (of technicolour coat fame) to do great things later in his life.
The scripture read was taken from Genesis 37 and 45 and consisted of four readings of things that happened in Joseph's life. The message for adults was entitled "Trusting God, When Life Goes Bump!" We all have troubles and woes. Life is not a smooth ride. Bumps are inevitable. Joseph was the youngest of 11 sons and he dreamed that his brothers would one day bow down to him. The brothers sold him into slavery. However, God was with Joseph enabling him to rescue his family from a terrible famine. Sometimes we feel like God is far away. God doesn't always take away pain but turns it into something for good. We should trust God even when we are in a pit.
The choir's anthem "Trust in God" was especially written for this occasion by Bruce Fleming.
Other songs sung during the worship were Open the Eyes of My Heart, Blessed Be Your Name, Oh God How We Have Wandered, If You Will Trust in God and In Christ Alone.
You are welcome to meet at Avondale Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for worship when the sermon topic will be Praying Through the Storm (the story of Job). Come a few minutes early and enjoy a coffee and fellowship.
Upcoming events include a Spaghetti Supper at St. Paul's on March 29 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., a Chili Lunch at Avondale on April 6 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and a UCW Rummage Sale and Bake Sale at Avondale on April 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Langton Baptist Church
Rev. Keith Sutherland opened the ‘Third Sunday of Lent’ church service at 11 a.m.
His message was on ‘Lent: Risky Business. Lent is a time of confession of our sins and a challenge to trust in that unknown journey with God. Are we willing to risk ourselves to put ourselves into God’s hands? Believing in God is trusting God totally and is risky business. It is a spiritual awakening to be born again. By God’s grace all can be justified. Let us speak to truth to our family and our friends.’ Prayer followed.
The children’s story was on ‘A bat a pigeon and a dog have something in common and we don’t have. Animals can sense. We cannot see and yet we assume what God is going to do. This season of Lent, let us recognize what God wants us to do.
Hymns sung, were: Love Divine All Loves Excelling, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart, and When We Walk With The Lord.
Responsive reading was on Ephesians 5:18b-20
Scripture readings, were: Psalm 121, John 3:1-21, Genesis 12:1-9 and Romans 4.
Prayers of supplication and praise were given by Rev. Sutherland.
Offering was received by Barbra Sinnesael and Marilyn Hammond.