BUC Worship Service – December 8

Balzac Pastoral Charge 
Airdrie Pastoral Charge 
Advent 2 December 8, 2024 
Balzac United Church – 10:00 AM 
Ministers: Rev. Kelly Grittner, Rev. Eva Biederman 
Music Ministry : Lee Dowan, Beth Harrison, Dr Alex Shawn 

Prelude : In the Bleak Midwinter, arr. M. Hayes   

Welcoming and Announcements  
Service link
Bulletin link

Welcome and Announcements

Land Acknowledgement
“As we gather together, we acknowledge that we are meeting on the unceded territories of the nations of Treaty 7. May we live with respect on this land, and in peace and friendship with its people.”

The Christmas Wreath

Lighting the Candle of Peace (the candle is lit)
Peace, in the midst of war. Peace, in the midst of conflict. Peace, when everything is going wrong. God offers peace.
We come seeking God’s peace. We come seeking to be made whole. We come seeking to be reconciled. We come from the four winds seeking God-with-Us.
Let us pray for Emmanuel, let us pray for the courage to be peaceful, let us pray for that peace that makes no sense to the world.
-Whitney Bruno, Little Current and Sheguiandah U.C., Little Current, Ont.

Opening Hymn VU 1 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

Call to Worship 
In a world that is lonely,
we will save a seat for you.
In a world that is anxious,
we will light candles against the gloom.
In a world that is weary,
we will sing songs of joy and truth.
I am not alone.
We are not alone.
For here in this place, God is weaving us together.
Light the candles! Sing with joy!
We are a three-cord strand, not easily broken.
-Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.

Candles of Joy, Concern, & Sorrow

Opening Prayer
Holy and loving God, as we wait for your son, Jesus, to be born into our world again, help us get ready.
Helps us get ready to receive true hope, true pace, true joy, and true love.
Then with these filling our hearts and souls, may your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
-Sandra Jenkinson, Sundridge P.C. and Trout Creek P.C., Sundridge, Ont.

Hymn VU 5 All Earth is Waiting 

Time for Young and Young at Heart
Children’s Song VU 577 I’ve Got Peace like a River

Prayer of Confession & Assurance 

I have tried to make my own way.
I have tried to lace my own shoes, to build my own house, to kindle my own faith. I have said a thousand times, “turn back,” as if I am fine on my own. But the days are long and I am forgetful. I need your help. Can you remind me?
We will remind you of this everlasting truth
You are not alone.
Where you go, God goes.
You are held in grace.
Trust in this good news.
Thanks be to God! I remember. I believe.
Now we need your help.
We, too, have tried to make our own way.
We have tried to lace our own shoes, to build our own houses, to kindle our own faiths.
We have said a thousand times, “turn back,” as if we are fine on our own. But the days are long and we are forgetful.
We need your help. Can you remind us?
I will remind you of this everlasting truth:
You are not alone.
Where you go, God goes.
You are held in grace.
Trust in this good news.

Thanks be to God! We remember. We believe.
Alleluia! Amen.
-Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.

Scripture Reading
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
One: This is a part of our story
ALL: Thanks be to God!

Message

Hymn MV 216 Wherever You May Go

Offering

Musical Offering – BUC Choir Anthem
Never Been a Night Like This! arrangement by  L. Larson

Offering Prayer
Through these gifts, may we be agents of Peace in your world;
Lifting people up in love so that they can experience an abundant future. Amen.
-Karen Boivin, City View U.C., Nepean, Ont.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer…Our Father/Mother/Creator…

Commissioning and Benediction

Closing Hymn MV 221 I Am Walking a Path of Peace

Postlude: Wachet Auf, arr. L. Smith