BUC Worship Service – January 18, 2026
Balzac United Church
January 18, 2026, 10:00am
Guest Minister: Rev. Ruth McArther
Music Ministry: Lee Dowan, Dr. Alex Shawn
Our scripture passages today evoke images of finding strength in the act of Being Called.
There are many ways to God, and we each travel our own way, sometimes responding to a
call, sometimes to an invitation. How do you experience that?
Prelude Be Not Afraid arr. M. Hayes
The Introit We Are One VU #402
Welcome and Announcements
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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
We are still in the depths of winter. The cold winds and long nights keep us inside, and we
look forward to spring. May this Christ light warm our hearts and light our way, so that we
can be faithful disciples in this time. Amen. (the Christ Candle is lit)
The Call to Worship (Responsively)
Come and praise God, who gathers us into relationship.
Come and praise the Spirit forging us into one.
Come and praise Jesus, who travels the path of love beside us.
We come to sing a new song of joyful freedom.
We come to listen to the word as disciples.
We come to explore and to deepen our faith.
Take time for awe and wonder, for the vibrant life of creation to seep deeply into our souls,
for the in-breathing of God’s will.
We pause, reverently, mindful of God as the ground of our being, pondering our unity
in the touch of baptismal water, tasting the living memory of bread broken and wine
poured out.
We come in prayer together:
With few words, O Christ, you called us, choosing us to follow and to growth. With
wisdom and self-giving, you accompany us toward a challenging Spirit, gracing us with
hearts for justice and for hospitality.
Unite our hearts in your symphony of passion, adding our voices to yours in close
harmony, teaching us the melodies of your love. Amen.
(Based on) Gord Dunbar, Kincardine, Ont.
Opening Hymn Oh A Song Must Rise MV #142
Candles of Joy, Concern and Sorrow
Opening Prayer
We come together and we feel your welcome, gracious God. We come today to seek the
light of Epiphany. By the light of faith lead us to worship you in peace and love and guide us
in your way. Amen
Hymn I Am a Child of God MV #157 v. 1 & 5
A Time Of Child Honouring
Based on Matthew 4:18-22; Mark1:16-20; Luke 5:5:1-11; John 1: 40-42
Say Something! Reynolds, Peter H. (Peter Hamilton), 2019
Scripture Reading Corinthians 1:1–9
Reflection The Blessing Of Unity
Special The Power of Your Love arr. C. Tornquist
Solo: Dr. Alex Shawn
Offering Invitation I Heard the Voice of Jesus arr. L Dengler
It is a blessing to know that within our church and among its global partners, there are
those well skilled in encouraging people to move from enmity to friendship. We support
them, O God, with our own efforts and these gifts.
Our morning offering will now be received.
Prayer of Dedication
O God of all Light we bring our gifts to you.
May they be used to bring Unity into our world.
May they be used as an offering, to our varied ministries, that each may be part of your light
for the healing of the world. AMEN
Prayers of the People
The Prayer of Jesus
Closing Hymn Arise Your Light Is Come VU #679 v. 1,4,5,6
The Blessing And Sending Forth
Go from here, transformed by what we felt today.
We have found the light we have been seeking.
Yet, it is not always what we thought it would be.
We have found and we have been found.
Let us seek to understand our faith more deeply
so that our discipleship may be transformed by God’s grace. Amen
Beth W Johnston, Bridging Waters P.C., Nipawin, Sask.
Postlude Make Me A Channel of Your Peace arr. M. Hayes