BUC Worship Service – November 2, 2025
Balzac United Church
November 2, 2025, 10:00am
Guest Minister: Dr. Alex Shawn
Music Ministry: Lee Dowan, Dr. Alex Shawn
Prelude Make Me a Channel of Your Peace arr. M. Hayes
Welcome and Announcements
Service link
Bulletin link
Message Link
Land Acknowledgement
As we gather together, let us pause to remember that we live, work, and worship on lands that are, by law, the unceded territories of the nations of Treaty 7. As Christ’s people, may we be people of love, of truth, and of reconciliation. May we live with respect on this land, and in peace and friendship with its people.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness VU #288
Blessing Bank
Candles of Joy, Concern and Sorrow
Opening Prayer
Hymn Come, O Fount of Every Blessing VU #559
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Luke 19: 1 – 10
Sermon: What Evidence do We Have? Dr. Alex Shawn
Hymn Come Touch Our Hearts MV #12 v.1,2,3
Offering Give Thanks arr. C. Curry
Prayer of Dedication
Prayers of the People
Loving, Healing, and Merciful God. We praise You for Your many gifts of sustenance, shelter, and safety. You are our guide, protector, and defender throughout this lifetime and we thank you for Your continued blessings and mercy. We confess that we don’t often acknowledge your gifts given through Your gracious love and kindness, but we are so very grateful for Your generous and loving spirit that touches us every day. Holy Spirit, hear us and carry our prayer on your wings with thankful
hearts.
As many of us stumble through our lives hoping for peace of mind and the healing of our bodies, our hearts, and minds from our burdens and worries; relieve us, Oh God, from our thoughts of concern for those politicians who are charged with governing our lands and our future path forward as a country. Relieve us, O God from our fears of other leaders who are charged with making the decisions in the welfare of their counties. Infuse them with your wisdom, Oh God, our ultimate peacemaker. Holy Spirit, hear us and carry our prayer on your wings on our behalf.
When we feel alone and powerless to help change our country and the world towards peace, as we hear of devastating wars between Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, Israel and Palestine, impending strife in Venezuela and South America, the border disputes in the United States, the drug wars that
are perpetually threatening and even killing our youth, grant them peace. There are so many innocent victims in these wars, Oh Lord, protect Them from the loss of their lives, and homes from the devastation caused through the bombings and famine. Oh God, hear our prayers and answer in Your time and with Your wisdom.
As sickness, pain, and medical issues face us every day and we feel total despair and defeat that drives us to seek desperate lengths and possibly make unsafe decisions for our healing choices, remind us O Lord that through You is where our healing begins. We know that You have already planned our lives on earth from our first breath to our last. Your assurance that we will live with You in heaven as Jesus promised, if we have dedicated our lives towards living in Your Light. Jesus in your mercy, heal our concerns and restore our health.
(A moment of Silence for individual prayers…)
Why do we despair in times of trouble, when all we need to do is look to You, O God. From You comes our relief and comfort, from You comes our healing, from You comes our hope to always protect us from harm. For this, we thank you and we will always praise You even in our darkest moments. You are here with us always and forever. We pray these words in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray…. Our Father…
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory VU #686
Benediction
Postlude I’ve Got Peace Like a River arr. M. Hayes