BUC Worship Service – December 28, 2025
Balzac United Church
December 28, 2025, 10:00am
Worship Leader: Hazel Mountford
Music Ministry: Lee Dowan, Dr. Alex Shawn, Beth Harrison
Prelude Beth Harrison
Welcome and Announcements
Service link
Bulletin 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
Holy God of hope and joy and peace and love,
You have brought the light of Christmas into our lives.
You light our path as we move into a new year.
We celebrate the light and love that Christ brought to us. In this liminal
space, this time of in between, we take your light with us as we move into a
new year and new adventures. God’s light and love be with us. Amen.
Opening Hymn Good Christian Friends Rejoice VU 35 v. 1 & 2
Candles of Joy, Concern and Sorrow
A time to share joys and concerns as well as memories of your best
Christmas or the highlight of 2025 for you.
Opening Prayer
Loving God, it’s the holiday season and yet we are here.
As we enter this new year, we yearn to experience your voice, to know with
certainty your call, to understand how we live best as followers of your
way…but it isn’t easy.
Fill our hearts, our minds, our will today with your love and wisdom, that we
may follow the Way of Jesus into this new year. Amen
– Gord Dunbar, while at Kincardine P. C., Kincardine, Ont.
Time for Young and Young at Heart
– Peggy Graham, AUC
Scripture Matthew 2: 13 – 23
Sermon Favorite Christmas Carols
VU 59 Joy to the World v. 1 & 4
VU 60 O Come, All Ye Faithful v. 1 & 3
VU 64 O Little Town of Bethlehem v. 1 & 3
VU 69 Away in the Manger v. 1 & 2
VU 55 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear v. 1 & 4
VU 91 The First Nowell v. 1 & 2
VU 74 What Child is This v. 1 & 2
VU 48 Hark the Herald Angels Sing v. 1 & 3
VU 38 Angels We Have Heard on High v. 1 & 2
VU 73 The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy v. 1& 2
Offertory In The Bleak Midwinter arr.M Hayes
Offering Dedication
Holy God, bless these gifts and the givers.
May the sing of our collaboration in giving be another sign of Emmanuel’s
presence in this world.
Strengthen the work of these churches and the growth of your kingdom
coming (of these churches working and worshipping together). Amen
– Gord Dunbar, while at Kincardine P. C., Kincardine, Ont.
Hymn: In the Bleak Midwinter VU 55 Vs.1 & 4
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn Joy is Now in Every Place VU 45 v. 1 & 4
Benediction
Go and share.
We go to stop accumulating stuff, choosing to build relationships in
Jesus’ name.
Go and listen.
We go to listen to God’s voice in each other, building bridges of
grace-filled understanding.
Go and act.
We go to follow the Spirit’s challenge and leading, finding the path of
Communion and of community.
– Gord Dunbar, while at Kincardine P. C., Kincardine, Ont.
Postlude Beth Harrison