ORDER OF THE ECUMENICAL WORSHIP SERVICE
L: Leader
C: Congregation
Prelude/Opening Hymn
Greeting
L: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And with your spirit.
Words of Welcome
Call to Worship
L: Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed.
C: Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
L: God in Christ is the Victor. Victory requires effort and struggle. As we pray for and strive towards the full visible unity of the church, we – and the traditions to which we belong – will be changed, transformed and conformed to the likeness of Christ. Christians want to make this effort together, without triumphalism, in humility, serving God and their neighbour according to the example of Jesus Christ. In striving for unity, this is the attitude we desire to ask of God together.
Opening Prayer
L: Almighty God, through Jesus you say to us that whoever wishes to be first must become the least and the servant of all.
We enter into your presence, knowing that your victory is won through the powerlessness of the cross. We come to pray that your church may be one. Teach us to accept humbly that this unity is a gift of your Spirit; through this gift, change and transform us and make us more like your Son, Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
Prayer of Repentance
L: Almighty God, in spite of the unity we receive in Christ, we persist in our disunity. Have mercy on us!
C: Have mercy on us! [or sing “Kyrie Eleison”]
L: We harden our hearts when we hear the Gospel. Have mercy on us!
C: Have mercy on us!
L: We fail to serve you in our brothers and sisters. Have mercy on us!
C: Have mercy on us!
L: The disobedience of Adam and Eve brought suffering and death to us, and creation was wounded and torn apart. Have mercy on us!
C: Have mercy on us!
L: [following a moment of silence] May God Almighty have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and lead us to eternal life.
C: Amen.
Old Testament Reading
Habakkuk 3:17-19
New Testament Reading
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Gospel Reading
John 12:23-26
Hymn/Song
Homily
Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed or 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Hymn/Song
[during the singing of the hymn, the “opłatki” are brought to the front and placed on a central table]
Prayers for Unity and Transformation
L: United in Christ who gives us the victory, let us pray to God:
For the Church, the Body of Christ, that we might truly live the unity we receive through the Holy Spirit. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For the leaders of our churches, that they may be faithful to the unity to which all Christians are called. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For the nations of the world, that they may live in peace with one another and promote justice for all. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For all people, that we may be good stewards of the earth. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For the people of our society, that we may be transformed to live as caring neighbours to each other. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For the sick and suffering, that they may be transformed by your healing presence. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For all families and households, that their struggles and joys may find their fulfillment in your love. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: For the dying, that they may be comforted by your presence. God our strength:
C: Change us by your grace.
L: Lord, stand in our midst and grant us unity and peace.
C: Our Father…
Sign of Peace and the Sharing of the Opłatek
L: Poland has a particular custom of sharing a special wafer, the opłatek [O-pwah-tek], in people’s homes and churches at Christmas. Each person is given a wafer. People then share this wafer by breaking off a piece of another person’s wafer and eating it. In doing so they convey their best wishes to each other. This sharing of the wafer expresses unity, love and forgiveness. We invite you to do the same as a sign of peace and unity.
Ministry of Music (Distribution of Opłatki)
L: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And with your spirit.
L: Let us offer each other a sign of peace as we share opłatki [O-pwaht-kee] with one another.
Hymn
[a collection may be taken to support the work of the Canadian Council of Churches in promoting the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity]
Prayer of Commitment
L: We remember what Paul the Apostle writes: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” Praise to the Lord, who leads us into unity! Father, we dedicate this week to pray for the deepening of our unity in Christ. He has overcome death and called us into new life in the Spirit. And so we pray:
L: Changed by the Servant Christ,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed through patient waiting for the Lord,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed by the Suffering Servant,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed by the Lord’s victory over evil,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed by the peace of the Risen Lord,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed by God’s steadfast love,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: Changed by the Good Shepherd,
C: Send us and together we will go!
L: United in the reign of Christ,
C: Send us and together we will go!
Blessing and Sending Forth
L: The Lord be with you.
C: And with your spirit.
L: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord’s face be lifted up to you, and give you peace.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn/Postlude
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