September 20, 2026
PENTECOST #17
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Listening,
and of Being Immersed in Creation
The quote for today goes something like this:
“Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks.
Also, learn from holy books and wise people. Everything – even mountains, rivers, plants, and trees – should be your teacher.”
(Morihei Ueshiba)
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Scripture Reader: Nancy Gillean
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
Prelude
Welcoming & Announcements
Land Acknowledgement (Unison)
“As we gather today as the faith community of Lakeview United Church, we are all reminded to acknowledge and honour the land upon which we come together as the historic and the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples. We thank the Blackfoot Nation, the Blood, the Nakoda Stoney, Siksika and our neighbouring TsuuT’Ina Nation for their stewardship of the land on which they reside. May we also continue this stewardship… together.”
Introit “All Who Are Thirsty” MV # 4
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Rev. Jope: Dawn arrives later each morning as we head into the colourful days of fall. Dusk arrives earlier each evening as the days shorten with the approaching fall equinox. Into the growing shadows of night comes the ever-bright light from one single candle reminding us that Christ is the light of the world. We light the Christ candle now, with gratitude and humility.
Call to Worship
Rev. Jope: Creating God, how magnificent are the works of your hands. We remember how you created the waters of the earth and out of these waters you created life.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: We remember how you sent rains upon the earth to cleanse it. We remember how you sent the rainbow as a sign of promise each time it rains.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: We remember how you created a new people by having them pass through the sea with a “wall of water on the right and on the left”. We remember how you provided water that was sweet for forty years in a desert.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: We remember how the Psalmist called the sheep of his flock to find pasture beside the still waters. We remember how the Prophets announced a time when the wilderness would blossom forth with new life and justice flow like a mighty river.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: We remember how Jesus calmed the waters of Galilee. We remember how he invited all to come and drink from the spring of water welling up to eternal life.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: We also remember how the waters of our lands were once pure and clean. We remember how the lakes and rivers and streams sustained the people. We remember how our ancestors settled along the waterways gaining livelihood from the water.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: But we did forget. We took your water for granted. We polluted it. We wasted it. In many places people became sick from the tainted water and even died from it.
ALL: Creating God, help us never to forget.
Rev. Jope: Many years will pass and considerable resources will be needed if the waters are to run clean again in our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
ALL: Help us, Creating God, to never forget the sacred gift that is water and may your baptismal waters continue to flow for everyone this morning, upon your sometimes parched people.
*Opening Hymn “River” MV # 3
Opening Prayer (Unison):
O Creator God, we thank you for your love in all creation, especially for your gift of water to sustain, refresh, and cleanse all life. We ask your blessing on this gathering as we come together as your people, bringing our many stories and traditions, mingling the waters of our experience and our faith. May we find strength and refreshment in those waters and may your Spirit move through all of us this morning as we, together, spend time in worship. May our worship-time be filled with love and laughter and may our spirits be lifted as the waters of your grace are poured…Amen.
Affirmation of Our Faith (Unison)
We believe in the God of our fathers and mothers, who speaks to us out of the past and guides our steps by history’s traditions.
We believe in the God of now, who is still active in the world and continues to reveal the divine nature to all of us.
We believe in the God of tomorrow, who holds the destiny of nations in loving hands and is shaping the future for the sake of a peaceful world.
We believe in Christ who has revealed the ways of God in our midst, and we pledge our allegiance to our community of faith which keeps alive the ministry of word and sacrament.
May God help us to do our best each day that we live, to love those around us, to walk responsibly in the way of Christ, and to pray for peace amongst all nations of the world….Amen.
(Taken from “Enter Every Trembling Heart – Prayers for Christian Worship,
pg. 41, Abingdon Press, Nashville, USA. John Killinger)
*Hymn “Water Flowing From the Mountains” MV # 87
Engaging
Reader: Nancy Gillean
Old Testament Passage
EXODUS 16: 2-15 God sends bread and quail to feed the people….
Psalm Reading
PSALM 105: 1-6 Make known what God has done…
Hymn of Illumination: “Like a Healing Stream” MV # 144
Gospel Passage
MATTHEW 20: 1-16 Wages for workers: What’s fair in God’s economy? …
Message: “Creation Week # 2 - WATER
Responding
Presentation of Our Offerings
(Invitation – Leader)
So, in this moment, we offer blessings upon the gifts which we’ve given to the work of your church…for the encouragement of your people…and with the love of Christ in our hearts…may these offerings be a blessing in their giving and in their utilization of sharing in the message of peace and of love…
Choir’s Selection of Music
Prayer of Dedication (Rev. Jope)
Sunday’s Reflective Prayer (Rev. Jope)
(Lord’s Prayer)
“Our Father, 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: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
*Heritage Hymn “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” VU # 375
Blessing
*Commissioning (unison): We are not to be made to be a small trickle of water. We are made to be great oceans of love and of deep compassion for all creation. We go now into the world with tides of joy!!…Amen
Benediction
Postlude