BUC Worship Service – March 15, 2026

Balzac United Church
March 15, 2026, 10:00am
Guest Minister: Patricia Dyson
Music Ministry: Lee Dowan, Dr. Alex Shawn

Prelude: The Lord’s My Shepherd arr. S. Nielson

The Introit

Welcome and Announcements
Service Link
Message Link

Land Acknowledgement
Today, we honour the Treaty 7 peoples–the Siksikka (Blackfoot), Kainai (Blood),
Piikani (Peigan), Stoney-Nakoda and Tssut’ina. These five nations lived on the land
of southern Alberta and northern Montana. They worked, hunted, played and
celebrated, through ceremony, their culture and their people. Today, we also
honour the Metis people of this territory, Districts 5 and 6, and thank them for
enriching this land by their presence. The Metis people are a distinct Indigenous
group with a unique history, culture and language, descended from unions
between First Nations women and European men, primarily fur traders. We
honour all Indigenous peoples who lived on this land before us.

Lighting The Christ Candle
May our worship service today be a time of spiritual nurture and connection with
our wondrous God. May the flame that dances into life this morning bring us
hope and remind us of the loving ministry of Jesus. (the Christ Candle is lit)

The Call to Worship
God calls us to see one another and this world with clear eyesight, with loving
hearts, and with listening ears.
May our worship reflect our thankfulness to our God who gives us the gifts we
need to fulfill this calling.

Opening Hymn Open My eyes, That I May See VU371
Candles Of Joy, Concern and Sorrow

Opening Prayer
God of life, you offer to us the healing we need to have our blindness to your
presence removed. In this time of worship may we feel your power restoring
and refreshing us, so our hearts experience your love, and we are strengthened
for our journey of faithfully living your word. Amen

Hymn The Lord is My Shepherd VU Pg. 747
A Time of Child Honouring

Scripture Reading John 9:1-41

Reflection Are We To Blind To See

Hymn Just As I Am VU508

Offering Invitation Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
arr. S. Nielson

Prayer Of Dedication
Prayers of the People

The Prayer of Jesus Closing

Hymn Amazing Grace VU266

The Blessing and Sending Forth
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
As we leave this time of worship, may our eyes and hearts be opened by the
love of God, that we bring kindness, comfort, and commitment to all we do and
say.

May we go from this worship to be a blessing in the service of God: Creator,
Christ, and Spirit. Amen.

Postlude Now Thank We All Our God arr. S. Nielson
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