BUC Worship Service – February 8, 2026

Balzac United Church
February 8, 2026, 10:00am
Guest Minister: Rev. Robert Mutlow
Music Ministry: Lee Dowan, Dr. Alex Shawn

Prelude The Light of the World is Jesus arr. M. Hayes

Welcome and Announcements

Service link
Bulletin link
Message link

Audio Announcements

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 The Christ Candle
Call to Worship Epiphany 5, 2026 – “Salt & Light”
Come, let us rejoice in this Season of Epiphany, inviting us:
To be the salt of the earth, the light that shines bright.
To hold fast to the worship that the Holy One seeks from us:
To loose the bonds of injustice, to let the oppressed go free,
To share bread with the hungry, to shelter the homeless poor.
To open our eyes to the world around us.
To let our light break forth like the dawn
and God’s healing to spring up and renew us.
To gather in praise and wonder, to worship the Holy One:
not just with our words but with our hearts and our lives.
Glory and honour be to you, O God,
Creator of a new heaven and a new earth.
Opening Song Oh, Sing to Our God VU#241 (Brazilian folk
song)
Opening Prayer
Candles of Joy, Concern, & Sorrow
(Congregational members are invited to come forward and offer prayer
requests and light candles.)
Amazing God, you have brought us together in this place:
For this we offer our praise and thanks this day.
As we light our prayer candles of hope and healing:
May our minds be opened to learn your wisdom.
May our eyes be opened to places that need healing.
May our hands be opened to do your good work.
May our hearts be opened to your Holy Spirit,
who gifts us and guides us.
In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Song Jesus Bids Us Shine # VU 585 (Seated)
Scripture Reading Isaiah 58:6-10 “The Fast God Chooses”
Response “Lord, Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary”
MV#18 x2 (Seated)
Gospel Reading Matthew 5:13-20 – “Salt & Light”
Anthem/Solo Let Your Light Shine Mary McDonald
Message
Hymn Make Me a Channel of Your Peace VU#684
(2026 – Year of St Francis commemorating the 800th Anniversary of his death on
October 3, 1226.)
THE LORD’S SUPPER
Offertory Jesus Loves Even Me arr. M Hayes
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you,
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts,
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God as we break bread together:
Gathering around your table where there is room for all.
Here we remember the worship that you desire, the fast you choose:
To loose the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free,
To share our bread with the hungry, to clothe the naked,
To let our light rise in the darkness and shine in the gloom.
To be like springs of water, flowing in parched places,
To be repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets.
So, with all your creatures, great and small,
with angels and archangels, with saints and servants in every generation,
with those of every time and place we proclaim:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, who came not to abolish the Jewish Torah,
Who calls us to choose the way of right relationships.
To live the way proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount,
To be salt for the earth and light for the world.
As beloved children, baptized in Christ Jesus,
We pray for the church…for the earth…for the nations…
As beloved children of God, we pray for our loved ones…
(Names may be offered in silence or vocally.)
For those who have died and those who grieve…
Today, we offer ourselves as salt and light,
To bring healing and hope in Jesus’ name.
The Story of the Last Supper
The Mystery of Faith
Gracious God, by the death of Jesus, You have destroyed the power of
death,
And by raising him to life, you have given us life forevermore.
And so, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Blessing of the Bread and Wine & Lord’s Prayer
Breaking of the Bread & Blessing of the Cup
Communion I Gave My Life for Thee arr. M Hayes
Communion is served. All are welcome to receive.
Communion Spiritual Let us Break Bread Together
VU#480
Prayer after Communion (unison)
Loving God, we give thanks that there is a place at this table,
For all your children to be fed with bread and wine.
Here we are reminded that your love, justice and mercy
is higher, and deeper and wider than we can know.
Help us to be salt and light, looking to you,
to guide our feet as we walk in your pathways,
Keep faith and hope alive in us until that day
when we have run our race and our work is done. Amen.
Closing Hymn Go, Make a Diff’rence MV#209
Benediction
Postlude Hallelujah, What A Savior arr. M Hayes