NEWCASTLE UNITED CHURCH84 Mill St. South L1B 1H2 905 987 4515

newcastleunitedchurch@bellnet.ca www.newcastleunitedchurch.orgJoanne McLennan, A.R.T.C., L.T.C.L., Music Director

Rev. David Jones, B.A., M.Div.Ruth Olley, L.L.W.L.

February 7, 2016 10:30AM Transfiguration SundayPraising God Together

Prelude

Processional Hymn: “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding” # 104

Call to Worship: (responsive)The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! God sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion and is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is God! Mighty God, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.Extol the LORD our God; worship at the Lord’s footstool. Holy is God!Moses and Aaron were among God’s priests; Samuel also was among those who called on God’s name. They cried to the LORD, and were answered.God spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept God’s decrees, and the statutes that were given to them.O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.Extol the LORD our God, and worship at the Lord’s holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy. (Psalm 99)

Prayer of Approach:Holy and Eternal God, you knew us before we knew you. You know our need for you in our lives, our need for your love to warm our hearts, for your word to guide us, for your Spirit to sustain us, for your presence to make us whole. Help us to come to you now with penitent and believing hearts - help us to hear your word, to see your glory, to feel your touch and then to follow in the way the Spirit directs us. We ask all these things in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Our Life & Work

Song: “Take Time To Be Holy” # 672

Sharing TimeSinging verse 1 of # 672 as young people and leaders go out.

Celebrating the Word

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35 Pew Bible Pg. 71

Gospel of Luke 9:28-36 Transfiguration. Pew Bible Pg. 843Reader: These are the teachings of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Anthem: “Cover Me” – words & muisic Barbara Billingsley, arranged by Patti Drennan

Message

Hymn: “For The Healing Of The Nations” # 678

Thanksgiving

The OffertoryPresentation of our gifts and singing # 541Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.Dedication Prayer: God of Glory, by your generosity we have received all that we have and become all that we are. As your Son drew apart to be in prayer with you, we offer our prayers now for the transformation of this church, our community and the world, through Christ our Lord. Amen

Invitation: The Table is now prepared for us. You do not need to be a member of this congregation or of the United Church of Canada, to partake of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. All who love the Lord are invited to his table.

Minister: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Minister: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord. (over)

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Minister: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in

your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity,

made a covenant to be our sovereign God and spoke to us through your prophets. In the fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

Therefore, we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles and martyrs and with those in every generation who have looked to

you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of

the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Lord’s Prayer (sung) # 959

Breaking of the Bread and Blessing of the Cup

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Prayer after Communion: (unison)For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you, God.Grant that what we have done and have been given here may so put its mark upon us that it may remain always in our hearts.Grant that we may become mature Christians, that ours may be the faith which issues in action; through Christ our Lord. Amen

Sending Forth

Hymn: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” # 371

Benediction

“Go Now in Peace” – Besig/Price (words printed inside cover of VU)

Postlude

“And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling

white.” Luke 9: 29

Newcastle United Church

Welcome! we enjoy open seating so please, sit where you feel comfortable and meet a new friend. We are happy you have chosen to worship with us. Please sign our guest book, located in the narthex and we invite you to worship with us again.

Greeting you this morning are Jo-Anne and John Smithson. John is Clerk of Session and member of the Nominating Committee.

Nursery care is provided for little ones to age 4 years from 10:20AM until the end of the worship service. Our nursery is located in the hall, through the doors on either side of the choir loft. Paige is our care provider.

Our BIBLOS reader is Anne Harrison, member of Session and the U.C.W.

Thank you to Rev. David Jones, our Pastoral Charge Supervising Minister for celebrating Communion with us and to Ruth Olley for sharing her faith and leadership this Sunday.

Faith in Motion – Holy Moly! our 5-9 year olds are learning the parable of the Mustard Seed. The key Bible verse is “When the mustard seed is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” – Mark 4: 32. The theme is that

the kingdom of heaven is right in front of us – bigger, better, wilders and more surprising than we could ever imagine. Connect! young people 10-12 finish up Jacob’s 12 Sons and begin exploring Joseph. Bible verses are Genesis 41:14-16, 39-40; Daniel 3: 24-30; Acts 7:54-8:1 and I Corinthians 2: 6-8. The theme is that faith and hope do not always equate to immediate relief from grief and misery. However, God’s power to transform is so great that even our greatest evil can be used by God to bring about greater good. Youth Bible Study – re:form! Pontius Pilate, the Troubled Politician passed the blame but it still didn’t clear his name. We compare the permanence of God’s forgiveness to the temporary nature of Pilate’s attempt to wash his hands of Jesus’ crucifixion. We relate to our lives – how do our mistakes shape us? We are we going to do about it?

Annual Congregational Meeting follows the worship service. We extend our appreciation to the Elders, who have prepared lunch for us.

Monday, February 8 at 1:30PM - Andrea Shaw, Executive Director for Hearth Place, is speaking at our UCW meeting. We would like to invite the broader congregation to the meeting. I am sure it will be interesting and informative – they do such good work. Light refreshments follow. The business meeting will be held after refreshments.

Robin has set up a Facebook page to feature what our young people are doing and to let everyone on social media know about our community outreach events – such as Board Games Night and Messy

Church. Thanks Robin! Like us & share: www.facebook.com/NUC.youngpeople/

Tuesday, February 9 – the Joint Search Cte. meets in the hall at 5:00PM.

Friday, February 12 – the Stewards host Euchre Night in the hall at 7PM with doors open at 6:45PM. $5/person includes refreshments. All are welcome.

Monday, February 15 (Family Day) – we offer our first Messy Church! from4:30-6:30PM. We Chill (gathering activities), Create (crafts/games/skits/songs), Celebrate (worship) and Chomp (sit down together for a meal.). All ages, non-denominational, Christ-centred. Come into the hall and dress is casual. If anyone would like to help – assist with crafts, creative prayer, food preparation, clean-up – please let Lorna, Susan, Janet or Robin know. Thank you!

Friendship Connection -February 19th at 10.30AM. Come and join us for fellowship and chit chat at the Sears Café where tea, coffee and a snack awaits you. All ladies of the church are so welcome.

Friday, February 19 – Board Games Night! hosted by our young people and leaders. 7-3:30PM in the hall. Snacks provided so please sign-up on the sheets in the narthex and hall. Bring your own games or use what we have.

Sunday, February 21 – the Stewards host a Sunday of Good Cheer! Join us after church for homemade soup, sandwiches, tea/coffee/juice & cookies, all donated by the Stewards. Freewill and all proceeds go toward the operating expenses of our church.

2015 Tax Receipts are available from your family file folder on the table in the narthex. Thank you.

AnnouncementsTransfiguration Sunday

February 7, 2016