Forest Hill United Church
'open doors, open hearts, open minds'
Second Sunday of Epiphany
January 17, 2016 at 10 am
“Miracles happen every day. Change your perception
of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you.”
Jon Bon Jovi (b. 1962)
American Singer-Songwriter
WELCOME to worship! It is good that you are here. This morning, we find ourselves in the middle of the Season of Epiphany – a time when we focus on how God’s light shines in the world. During our time together, we hear the story of Jesus performing his first miracle and we celebrate that our lives are filled with miracles. We hope that you feel wonder and the presence of God in this place. After worship, please do join us for a time of fellowship with coffee, tea, juice and cookies.
Our greeter this morning is May Houston,
our tellers are Bob Fisher and Lorna McKnight,
our hospitality host is Norma Reid,
our Sunday School teachers are
Jula Hughes and Margie Roxborough,
and our music is led by Deborah Park and the FHUC Choir.
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Gathering
At the **, you are asked to rise in body or in spirit.
Prelude: Come, Follow Me by Samuel McBurney, arr. S. DeFord
Welcoming the Light
**Introit: (Sung Together) To Tune of #59 MV
In the light, we gather now. In the light, we gather now.
God's holy flame will ignite us somehow.
In the light, we gather now.
Words by Ali Smith, 2016
Welcome & Church News
Call to Worship:
One: Here we come once more with joy!
All: We have brought our dancing shoes
for worship is a celebration.
One: We come as if to the wedding feast at Cana
where Jesus turned water into wine.
All: We come brimming with gratitude
for all the marvellous things God has done.
One: We come with body, mind and spirit ready to worship.
Call to Worship & Gathering Prayer by Ali Smith, 2016
Gathering Prayer: (Spoken Together)
Holy One, we come to you, longing for miracles.
We long for our neighbour’s hurting to be changed into healing.
We long for the world’s cruelness to be changed into kindness.
We long for darkness to be changed into light.
In this holy hour, re-adjust our eyes that we may see the miracles happening around us and fill us with your spirit
that we might receive them with wonder and awe. Amen.
**Opening Hymn: #40 MV Never Ending Joy
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Exploring
First Reading: John 2:1-11 The Wedding at Cana
Story Time
**Song of Praise: In Cana at a Wedding Feast To Tune of #530 VU
In Cana at a wedding feast, Christ worked his first great sign.
There Jesus’ mother told her son, “They don’t have any wine!”
He called for six stone water jars; they filled them to the brim;
Through water changed to wine that day,
his friends believed in him.
Far from the town, the crowds pressed in on Jesus’ prayer retreat.
He healed their sick, then told his own, “You give them food to eat!”
Five loaves of bread and two small fish were all they found to share.
Yet thousands ate the meal he blessed, with baskets left to spare.
O God, we see your wondrous signs
and know through faith-filled eyes:
You are new wine that brings us joy, true bread that satisfies.
You give clear vision to your church, you make the wounded whole.
You give us hope, when seas are rough; for you are in control!
Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gilette
After the first verse, the children & teachers leave for Sunday School.
Words from Our World: "What Kind of a Dancer was he?”
by Suzanne Guthrie
Words from Our Bible: Mary Grant
Psalm 36 Page 762 VU (with Refrain)
Isaiah 62:1-5 You Shall Be Called My Delight
One: These are the words that bring us light.
All: Thanks be to God!
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Special Music: Sarabande by N. A. Strungk
Annemarie Manson and Deborah Park
Reflection: “Water to Wine, Desolation to Delight”
**Hymn of Reflection: #371 VU Open My Eyes That I May See
Scattering
Presentation of Our Gifts
**Offering Verse: (Sung Together) #171 MV Refrain
Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands but yours. Here on this earth,
yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
**Prayer over the Gifts
Prayers of the People
Prayer of Jesus: (Spoken Together)
Our Father-Mother, who is in the heavens,
may your name be made holy,
may your dominion come,
may your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread we need;
and forgive us our debts,
as we have forgiven our debtors;
and do not put us to the test,
but rescue us from evil.
For yours is the dominion, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
**Closing Hymn: #641 VU Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song
verses 1 -2
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**Sharing the Light & Blessing
**Choral Response: (Sung Together) #220 MV
Hope shines as the solitary star,
faith is the inner light.
You and I together mirror the Light of Lights,
and illumine the pathway home.
Postlude: Sun Of My Soul from Katholisches Gesangbuch
arr. Tom Fettke
OFFICE INFORMATION
(506) 455-0988 | foresthillunited.com
Administrative Assistant - Kris Yarych
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12:45 - 3:45 pm
Minister - Rev. Ali Smith
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 9 am - Noon
(506) 292-2369
COMING UP @ FHUC
Quilt Group Mondays 10 am – Noon Upper Room
Choir Practice Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room
Affirm Working Group Tuesday, January 19 at 7 pm in the Library
Board Meeting Thursday, January 21 at 7:15 pm in Upper Room
Bible Study Monday, January 25 at 7 pm in the Library
Forest Hill Book Tuesday, February 2nd at 12 noon in the Parlour
Club Tides of Honour by Genevieve Graham
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Church News
TheAffirmWorking Group will meet on Tuesday January 19th at 7:00 pm in the Library. We will be planning an upcoming service and it would be appreciated if everyone could attend.
Observer renewal and/or new subscription Cost $25. Cash or cheque payable to Forest Hill United Church, due February 14th. Questions: Margaret Macdougall 455-3767
We need your help to fill a variety of positions in the church. For more information or if you have suggestions for the Nominations Committee, please speak to Margie Roxborough or contact her at or 455-0576.
LLWL: Maritime Conference is offering training to persons interested in becoming Licensed Lay Worship Leaders. For more information, please contact the Rev Robyn Brownn-Hewitt at or speak to the Chair of the Worship Committee, Libby Cassidy, or the minister, Rev Ali Smith.
Have you been involved in an activity in the church during the past year that you think should be included in the Annual Report? We want the report to be a reflection of everything that has happened at Forest Hill during 2015. If you have any photos or written submissions for the report, please send them ASAP to . Handwritten submissions can be given to Margie as well. The sooner you get things in, the more likely they are to be included in the report.
Storm Policy Reminder: In the event of a serious storm on a Sunday morning, a decision will be made by 8 a.m. as to whether a cancellation is necessary. If a service is cancelled, a message will be placed on the church answering machine, sent out via email, and passed on to CBC radio.
For notices from the larger community, check out our bulletin boards or visit foresthillunited.com, clicking COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 18 – 24, 2016
Prayer Breakfast
Monday, January 18, 2016 at 7 am
Nashwaaksis United Church (Main St.)
Worship Service with Fellowship to Follow
“Called to Proclaim the Mighty Acts of the Lord”
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 2 pm
Ste Anne des-Pays-Bas Church (Priestman & Regent)
Gathering
Friday, January 22, 2016 from Noon to 1 pm
St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church
(1 William St. off Royal Rd.)
Worship Service
with guest speaker Graydon Nicholas
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 4 pm
Christian Reformed Church (121 McAdam Ave.)
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