UCW 50th Anniversary
Worship Service
A Service of Thanksgiving & Celebration of the UCW
Opening Hymn: "I
Am The Light of the World" (VU87)
Call to Worship:
We have gathered here to worship God and to celebrate the United Church
Women.
We have come rejoicing and
seeking comfort, strength, inspiration, community, and insight.
We
have come to open ourselves to the power of God's presence in our midst.
We have come to offer up the seasons and the turnings in
our lives, and to ask God's help in our learning and growing. Amen.
The
Lord's Prayer
Words of Welcome & Introduction
Statement
Invitation
UCW Purpose:
It is the
purpose of the UCW:
to unite the women of the congregation for the total
mission of the church, and to provide a medium through which we may express our
loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship
and service.
Memorial
Candle Lighting
Hymn "Tapestry of Love"
(Music & lyrics by Diana
Chappell and arrangement by Brian Stevens; written especially for the 50th
Anniversary Celebrations)
We are diff’ rent, women leading diff rent lives,
We are daughters, mothers, we are sisters and wives.
We are single strands joined together as one
In a community of friends.
Chorus:
These are the threads of our common lives,
These are the threads soft and strong.
Joining together women near and far,
In a tapestry of love.
Flames of
Spirit, red, peaceful ocean, blue.
Laughter's
golden truth, vibrant colours and hues.
We are
diff ‘rent shades, joined together as one,
In a
community of joy Chorus
Stories
reaching back, joining dreams and lives
Our
commitment's strong, and our vision still thrives,
From all
walks of life, joined together as one,
In a
community of faith. Chorus
Life
Parables
From our Scriptures*
Ruth
"Witness"
Hymn "Faith
of Our Mothers" VU580 vs. 2 & 4
Huldah "Study"
Hymn "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" VU806 vs. 1 & 3
50th Anniversary M&S Project
The
Offering
Invitation:
Response:
Prayer:
Let us pray:
O God, you have given to us
beyond our wildest dreams, and we are called to be thankful. Empower us, Our
God, to respond generously, wisely and compassionately, that our gifts combined
with the gifts of others, may follow the pattern of Jesus Christ and become a
living, loving blessing. In the name of love we pray, Amen.
From Our Scriptures*
Martha "Fellowship,
Service"
Hymn "We Are Pilgrims" VU595
vs.1, 2 &
5
Celebration
of UCW Life & Charter Members
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn written by Betty Radford Turcott for Voices of
We celebrate our history, rejoice
to know our past,
And thank God for those women who
to the faith held fast.
They toiled in God's service, they
worshiped, worked & prayed and following a vision they journeyed unafraid.
In this a world of turmoil, the
call of God we heed.
And to that call stay faithful,
in action, word and deed.
Thus challenged by our purpose,
and struggling on the way,
We journey where God leads us,
toward a better day.
We look toward the future, and
joyfully we go.
With faith into tomorrow the
seeds of life to sow.
We follow still that vision, that
will not be denied,
The coming of an
Commissioning:
Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ,
we do look forward in faith to the future.
Go with joy, sowing seeds of life
answering the call of God.
UCW
Benediction:
May the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon all our work and worship done in His
name. May He give us light to guide us, courage to support us and love to unite
us, now and forevermore. Amen
* From "Monologue from 'Some Women Amaze Us' by
Bernice Santor, The Alymer Express id., Fine Print Division (pages 99-100 and from
"Monologue from 'Some Women Amaze Us' (pages 106-7).