BUC Worship Service – Nov 1, 2026
Balzac United Church
November 1, 2026
“All Saints Day”
Worship Leader: Rev. Marion Martin
Music Ministry: Dr. Alex Shawn
Prelude: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing K. Barber
The Christ Candle
Land Acknowledgement:
As we gather today as the community of Balzac United Church, we begin our worship by acknowledging and honoring the land upon which we gather today as the historic and traditional territory of Indigenous peoples. In particular, we recognize and thank the Blackfoot Confederation, Treaty 7 land, the Metis homeland Districts 4, 5, and 6, and Inuit peoples, for their stewardship of these lands over a millennia.
(Cheryl Dillon, Trillium U.C., St. Catherines ON)
Welcome and Announcements
HYMN: Shall We Gather at the River VU 710
Blessing Bank
Candles of Joy, Concern and Sorrow
Time of Centering
Call to Worship (Responsive)
We gather today remembering the Saints who have gone before us.
Those who shared our lives, our faith, our joys, and our sorrows.
We give thanks for the lives of those we have loved and lost.
For their laughter and their wisdom, their kindness and their courage.
We remember those whose absence still leaves an ache in our hearts.
We remember the faith they shared with us, the love they gave, and the ways their lives continue to shape ours.
Let us worship the God who is with us in our remembering, our grieving, and our hoping.
We come with grateful hearts. We come with tender hearts. We come to worship the God of life and love. Amen
Opening Prayer (unison)
God of every generation, gather us into your love and teach us to live faithfully in the love of those who have gone before us. Amen
HYMN: For All the Saints VU 705 pg. 4
Scripture
Revelation 7: 9- 17
After that, I saw before me an immense crowd without number, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They stood in front of the throne and the lamb, dressed in a long white robes and holding palm branches. And they cried out in a loud voice,” Salvation is our God, who sits on the throne and of the Lamb!” All the angels who were encircling the throne, as well as the elders and the four living creatures, prostrated themselves before the throne. They worship God with these words: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our god forever and ever!” Then one of the elders asked me,” these people in white robes- who are they comma and where do they come from?” I answered, “You are the one who knows.” Then the elder said to me,” These are the ones who survived the great period of testing; They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. That’s why they stand before God’s throne and the One they serve day and night in the temple; The One who sits on the throne will shelter them forever. Never again will they be hungry or thirsty; The sun and its scorching heat will never beat down on them, for the Lamb, who is at the centre of the throne, will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.” pg. 5
Affirmation
May God add a blessing to the reader, hearers, and doers of these words.
Thanks be to God. Amen
Time for Young at Heart
The Message:
HMYN: I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry VU 644
Offering Invitation
Offertory Music: When I Look into Your Holiness
Arr. J. Bennett
The Doxology: Let All Things Now Living (v2) VU242
By law God enforces, the stars in their courses and the sun in its orbit obediently shine; the hills and the mountains, the rivers and the fountains, the depths of the ocean proclaim God’s divine. We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing with glad adoration a song lets us raise till all things now living unite in Thanksgiving, to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.
Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self (Responsive)
As spiritual people we bring our offerings and celebrate those Saints who came before us as we work towards being the Saints for the next generation. Amen pg. 6
Prayer for the Community (Pastoral Prayers)
Prayer of Jesus (adapted)
Our Creator (Father/Mother/Parent) who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day Our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil period for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Adapted from and based on the work of Teresa Burnett -Cole, Gleb-St. James U.C., Ottawa, ON Mississauga,ON
Sacrament of Communion
Invitation to the Table
May the God of Saints and sinners be with you.
And also with you.
Join me in glorifying our God.
We offer our hearts as we praise our God.
Let us bless our God at all times.
Songs of Thanksgiving will flow from our lips forever……..
Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” MV 203
O holy, holy holy God, O God of time and space. All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace period pg. 7
Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise. And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!
In Remembrance
HYMN: “Memorial Acclamation” MV 204
Prayer of Transformation
Sharing of the Bread and Vine
Prayer after Communion (Unison)
We give thanks that bread broken brings wholeness; that wine poured out replenishes; that time spent with the Risen Christ and one another is gift and grace.
HYMN: “Great Amen” MV 205
Closing HYMN: And on This Path MV 8
Going Forth (responsive)
Go with gratitude for those who have gone before us, with tenderness for those who grieve, and with courage to live the lives we have been given.
May the love that we held in our loved ones continue to hold us.
Blessing
Postlude: Great and Mighty is He arr. B. Inman pg. 8
We give thanks to all who participated in making today’s worship service a reality. pg. 9
IMPORTANT DATES:
Nov 01 Rev.Marion Martin All Saints Day & Communion
- Sunday School
Nov 08 Rev Marion Martin Remembrance Day Service
Choir to sing
Nov 09 Board meeting at 7:00 pm Everyone is welcome
Nov 15 Dr. Alex Shawn, Sunday school
Nov 21 Winter Market
Nov 22 Rev. Pat Dyson
Nov 26, The Little Stitch By The Rail 12:30 – 3:30
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you would like a Pastoral visit, phone call, or have an emergency please free to call
Rev. Marion Martin at 403 715 2901
You can also find her at the church every Thursday from 1:00 – 4:00pm.
In the next month we will be updating our contact list to ensure we have all your correct information. Stay tuned
November 26
The Little Stitch by the Rail A come as you are creative gathering! Bring what you’re making-pattern, paper, or paint. Come for the crafting. Stay for the company! Everyone welcome! From 12:30 – 3:30 pg. 10
November 1,
All Saints day please bring a picture of a loved one that has passed to be included in this service
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. – Ghandi
STARTING NOVEMBER 1, 2026 – May 1, 2027
Grab a couple of friends and join the fun! Teams will take on exciting challenges focused on paying it forward, spreading kindness, and giving back through charity. Make a difference, share some laughs, and show just how powerful a little kindness can be! Gather your team Take on the challenges Spread kindness and make a difference! Together, we can make kindness happen! Is your team ready? Highest point team wins the right to donate the total sum of registrations fees to the charity of their choice! Registration fee: $10.00 per each participant.
See Victoria for registration forms.
November 21
Winter Market Come join us for a wonderful day of shopping and community! Local vendors Bake table and Coffee will be on! Come browse, enjoy some delicious treats, grab a coffee, and support our local vendors. We can’t wait to see you there! Help would be appreciated during the market, also for set up, and take down.
Sunday School’s back in session:
Sunday School Nov 1, & 15 Dec 6, & 20
Thank you to Gwendolyn and Olivia in leading our kids in their faith journey. pg. 11
BALZAC UNITED CHURCH X’MAS 2026 CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER! Looking for delicious treats and wonderful gifts for the holidays? We’ve got you covered! Click on the link and look for BALZAC UNITED CHURCH X’MAS 2026 to explore all the delicious chocolates available. There are so many yummy options to choose from, perfect for sharing with friends and family or treating yourself!
Order deadline: December 2, 2026 Pick-up date: December 13, 2026 Pick-up location: Balzac United Church
Get your orders in before the deadline and make your Christmas a little sweeter while supporting our church! https://fundraising.purdys.com/fundraising/campaign/000038703
TITHES & OFFERINGS
E-Transfer Funds to BUC: E-transfers to Balzac United Church,treasurer@balzacunitedchurch.com. Please see Gary if you wish to change your donation to PAR. For tax receipt, please add your information to any cash donations.
DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Please see email