Sunday Evening Bulletin

THE GATHERING

Musical Prelude

Greetings and Announcements

Hymn Requests

Gathering (Responsive)

Leader: We focus on World Food Sunday this week after having sat at Thanksgiving Tables and piled our plates with traditional foods and plenty of it. At the end of our meal, the fridge was likely laden with leftovers.

Today we ask:

All: Why are people hungry?

Leader: Conflict that forces people to flee their livelihoods.

All: Economic disparities that keep people trapped in poverty.

Leader: Food system failures. Climate change and natural disasters.

All: Why do we pray?

Leader: Prayer helps us acknowledge our dependence on God and helps us to witness God’s love for creation.

All: Prayer equips us to take faith-grounded advocacy.

Leader: As part of our mission to end global hunger, we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, believing that God does not want any human to go hungry.

All: What do we pray for?

Leader: For people who experience persistent hunger.

All: For those experiencing drought, conflict, or natural disasters that cause displacements.

Leader: For the Church to advance the Gospel by working for justice and an end to hunger.

All: For the church - that’s all of us - and world leaders, that they will make ending hunger and poverty a priority.

Leader: For all people to have knowledge about and access to affordable, nutritious food.

All: That we do not waste food.

Leader: We have some good to be thankful for.

All: What are some praise items?

Leader: Gratitude for those who work the soil to produce our food.

All: God’s love that guides our steps as we work to end hunger.

Leader: Give thanks for the food you eat.

All: Rejoice that we can share the sacred gift of food with all.

Opening Hymn “Creating God, We Give You Thanks” VU 292

Prayer

God, we are thankful for the food around us.

We hear you asking us to take care of other people.

Help us feed the hungry and love them as you have loved us.

Thank you for the gift of hope, even in the darkest of times. We trust in your love and your power. Amen.

Theme

Echo Prayer

Sing and Sign “Halle, Halle, Halle”

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

Hymn         “To Show By Touch Or Word”  VU # 427

Responsive Psalm 111(VU pg 784)  Sing refrain

Gospel of  Luke 18: 1-8

Reflection

Prayer (Responsive)

Leader: O God,

All: We pray that we will know you more clearly as we try in faith to live with you.

Leader: May we truly worship you in body, mind, heart and soul, so that the fullness of your life is expressed in some small way within us.

All: Teach us to see the world around us as you do, Holy Spirit: so that we discern your wisdom and guidance in all our

relationships.

Leader: Help us to follow in your way, Jesus Christ:

All: loving our neighbours as ourselves and walking in courage towards those who exploit others.

Leader: Show us the beauty of your creation, God of the Universe: that we may value everything that lives and cherish all that you have given to us.

All: May your church always bear witness to the delight of your infinite reality, O God, and gather together all that we know of you into a unity which makes us one with you, for you are the centre of everlasting life, O God. Amen.

Words for Worship, posted on the Uniting Church website

WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD

Offering Gifts to God

Hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour” VU 671

Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer

WE GO INTO THE WORLD

Hymn “Day Is Done”  VU # 433

Commissioning

Sung Benediction 

Go with us, Lord, as now we depart

Calming our fears that trouble each heart.

Keep us all in your grace.

Until we come, again, to this place.

Now we will walk in peace with the Lord.

living in faith and teaching His word.

Share His love ev’ry day,

For he has surely shown us the way!

Words: Don Besig and Nancy Price (ASCAP): Music: Don Besig (ASCAP)

Words and music © 1991 by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.  Used with permission.

Celebration

Postlude Music