October 12, 2025
THANKSGIVING SUNDAY
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Celebration, and of Coming Together, Across the World, In Giving Thanks
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Elizabeth Wegg
Guest Musicians: The Scholz Family Brass
“I do not want the peace which passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace” (Helen Keller)
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE (Scholz Family Brass)
WELCOMING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
*INTROIT MV # 46 “Bless the Lord”
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF CHRIST
ACKNOWLEDGING THE TERRITORY (Unison)
ALL: We acknowledge that we are worshiping today on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, as well as in Treaty 7 territory which includes the Siksika, Piikani or Peigan, Kainai or Blood, Tsuut’Ina, and Stoney Nakoda Nations. We also acknowledge our Metis among us.
OPENING CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Leader: This morning, we all come together in the spirit of thankfulness, for each of us is aware of life’s abundance. We know that we are all truly blessed!
ALL: We set aside this special day for reflecting on the countless gifts that come to us: family, friends, the food we eat, the homes that nurture us, the countless vistas of God’s amazing world, and not to mention freedom of religion or speech or freedoms of just being who we are.
Leader: We come into this place with a thankful heart and giving hands. We open ourselves to the spirit of a joyful community of faith.
ALL: May our worship-time together bring us closer to the heart of God and may each of us, in turn, be touched by grace.
Leader: Come, O Spirit of Giving, and fill this sanctuary with your presence. Come into each and every heart and move us in directions of peace, of justice, and of thankful living and loving.
ALL: Come, O Spirit of God, for we are gathered as one voice, one world, united in thankfulness. May we open ourselves to holiness, to truth, to imagination, and to devotion as we offer our prayers to the One Creator God:
OPENING PRAYER (Unison)
ALL: O God of plenty, God of abundance, may each of us sense your presence in this worship-time. May we always remember that you continually gift us in ways that sometimes we forget to acknowledge: the air which we breathe, the changing seasons, the sun rising and setting, living water, loving relationships, food in our cupboards, food on our table. We are truly blessed, and may we be blessings to others who may never know what loving families are, who hunger from morning to night, whose living water may be tears. Make each of us more giving, more loving, more understanding and move us in directions which will heal the world. O God of creation, create in each of us a new partnership with your world...Amen.
ASSURANCE of PARDON (Leader)
God’s grace is over all and in all. By God’s grace, our faithfulness is possible. By God’s grace, we are renewed and can begin afresh each, and every day…Thanks be to God….Amen.
*HYMN VU # 820 PSALM 100 “Make a Joyful Noise”
PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
(We share the words of “Peace of Christ to you” to each other and either shake hands, offer hugs or the blessing of Namaste)
CHILDREN’S GIFT OF SONG “Thank you For Giving Me”
Engaging the Sacred Text
(Reader: Elizabeth Wegg)
Older Testament Reading
DEUTERONOMY 16: 1-11 Bring tithes; a wandering Aramean was my ancestor…
Epistle Reading
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 The peace of God which passes all understanding…
HYMN of ILLUMINATION MV # 16 “Come and Fill Our Hearts”
Taize Community -- 1982
Gospel Passage
JOHN 6: 25-35 Give us bread from heaven for eternal life… (Rev. Jope)
MESSAGE “How Do We Share in Our Abundance?”
CHOIR & BRASS SELECTION “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
arr. Edward Eicker
Responding
OFFERING INVITATION (Leader)
We are all called to participate in the healing of the world. Our offerings can enable this community and others to be what the church is called to be, offering healing and love…our offerings will now be taken up…
OFFERTORY SELECTION (Scholz Family Brass)
WORDS FOR OUR OFFERING
Leader: We ask you to bless what we offer, O God, as part of the body of Christ. May our generosity cause ripples of joy-filled laughter and hope to spread. Through these gifts gratefully given, may your blessing become our dance of delight as we share our gifts…
PRAYER of DEDICATION (Leader)
Blessing
PRAYERS OF THIS COMMUNITY OF FAITH (Unison)
ALL: God of thankfulness, God of countless blessings:
In the mystery of a new birth, in the child as they discover the world about and the people in whom they trust, we glimpse a holy moment telling of you.
In the tranquility of the silent moment, in the music which thrills our innermost being and the glories on nature powerfully majestic, we glimpse a holy moment of you.
In the loving word, in the concern expressed from the heart and the presence of friend who does not impose, we glimpse a holy moment of you.
In the opportunity to care, in the sense of being upheld by the care of others and the privilege of seeing deep into the solitude of another, we glimpse a holy moment of you.
In the artist’s imagination, in the composer’s music, and the scientist’s leap of faith, we glimpse a holy moment of you.
In the problem being resolved, in the transformation of decline and the community which embraces the most vulnerable, we glimpse a holy moment of you.
God, parent
God, companion in Jesus,
God, enlivening Spirit.
Your blessing is in all moments of life, grant us the deep sense to give constant thanks and to rejoice!...let us now share in the singing of the words which Jesus taught us:
The Lord’s Prayer VU # 959
COMMISSIONING (unison): (Bill Perry, Belleville, Ont. Gathering magazine)
Go into our world, following Jesus and seeking his way. Go into our world aware of the challenges that are present. Live this Thanksgiving holiday, today and every day, allowing thanksgiving to shape and grow your life by the grace of God.
CLOSING CHOIR & BRASS SELECTION “I Will Sing With All My Soul” by: Tom Trenney
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE MUSIC (Scholz Family Brass)
**************************************************
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Pentecost Nineteen
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97 – 104
2 Timothy3:14 – 4:5
Luke 18:1-8